Politics and Government (POLS)

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT (POLS)

The Politics and Government curriculum presents different and often conflicting points of view on a variety of important political ideas in the Western political tradition (for example: democracy, freedom, equality, development, and power). Study of how different individuals have looked at these ideas, as well as how such ideas have been practiced in the contexts of real institutions and political controversies, enlarges the mind, develops the tools necessary for effective citizenship, and serves to cultivate critical reasoning. Students are encouraged to find ways to address problems, such as the loss of biodiversity, disparities between neighboring communities and personal responsibility, global gender and social inequalities, foreign policy decision making and international security, and the relationship between private and public life in a democracy. As political scientists we seek to understand the causes of wars, social injustices, economic disparities, and uneven technological growth for the purpose of alleviating suffering and providing sustainable solutions. Students study these questions through an engagement with historical texts as well as case studies and ongoing contemporary debates.

The faculty is committed to teaching students how to effect social change through active citizenship —whether in local, state, national or international communities. By learning from different people and situations in internships and service learning, Western students are prepared for graduate or professional school or to better understand and prepare for careers in business, journalism, government service, or public life. Such internships have ranged from working in local law offices or offices at the state capitol to interning in United States Senate offices in Washington, D.C. The Politics and Government Program offers a standard major, a global studies emphasis, a pre-law emphasis, a secondary licensure emphasis, an Environmental Management Emphasis (with a 3+2 Master in Environmental Management), a standard minor, and a pre-law minor.

A statistics course may be used to meet the POLS elective requirement.

One of the following capstone courses:

POLS 485 Studies in Political Theory

3 cr

POLS 486 Studies in American Politics

3 cr

POLS 487 Studies in International Relations

3 cr

POLS 488 Studies in Comparative Politics

3 cr

Politics and Government Major: Comprehensive Programs

GLOBAL STUDIES EMPHASIS

A minimum of 54 credits is required including the following:

POLS 117 Introduction to Political Ideas

3 cr

POLS 180 Introduction to American Politics

3 cr

POLS 255 Introduction to Comparative Politics

3 cr

POLS 260 Introduction to World Politics

3 cr

POLS 309 Political Theory I – Ancient to Early Modern

3 cr

POLS 310 Political Theory II – Later Modern and Contemporary

3 cr

Six of the following:

POLS 250 Environmental Politics

3 cr

POLS 340 Politics of Social Movements

3 cr

POLS 350 Human Rights

3 cr

POLS 355 Politics of Development

3 cr

POLS 360 American Foreign Policy

3 cr

POLS 370 Political Economy

3 cr

POLS 380 The United Nations

3 cr

POLS 499 Internship in Politics and Government

3 cr

Two of the following:

ECON 201 Macroeconomics

3 cr

ECON 202 Microeconomics

3 cr

ECON 303 International Economics and Globalization

3 cr

Two of the following:

HIST 250 History of the Middle East

3 cr

HIST 254 History of Africa

3 cr

HIST 260 History of Latin America

3 cr

HIST 354 Conflict in Africa

3 cr

Or another 300 or 400-level History course on an international thematic

One of the following:

GEOG 110 World Regional Geography

3 cr

GEOG 120 Introduction to Human Geography

3 cr

GEOG 351 Geography of Latin American and the Caribbean

3 cr

One of the following capstone courses:

POLS 485 Studies in Political Theory

3 cr

POLS 486 Studies in American Politics

3 cr

POLS 487 Studies in International Relations

3 cr

POLS 488 Studies in Comparative Politics

3 cr

PRE-LAW EMPHASIS

A minimum of 57 credits is required including the following:

POLS 117 Introduction to Political Ideas

3 cr

POLS 180 Introduction to American Politics

3 cr

POLS 255 Introduction to Comparative Politics

3 cr

POLS 260 Introduction to World Politics

3 cr

POLS 300 Constitutional Law I

3 cr

POLS 301 Constitutional Law II

3 cr

POLS 309 Political Theory I–Ancient to Early Modern

3 cr

POLS 310 Political Theory II–Late Modern and Contemporary

3 cr

Four of the following:

POLS 250 Politics of the Environment

3 cr

POLS 282 Issues in State and Local Government

3 cr

POLS 331 Politics of the Presidency

3 cr

POLS 340 Politics of Social Movements

3 cr

POLS 350 Human Rights

3 cr

POLS 355 Politics of Development

3 cr

POLS 360 American Foreign Policy

3 cr

POLS 370 Political Economy

3 cr

POLS 376 American Political Thought

3 cr

POLS 380 The United Nations

3 cr

POLS 499 Internship in Politics and Government

3 cr

Six of the following courses in at least four disciplines:

ACC 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting

3 cr

ACC 350 Income Tax

3 cr

BUAD 210 Legal Environment of Business

3 cr

BUAD 315 Business Law

3 cr

COM 271 Small Group Communication

3 cr

COM 371 Argument and Conflict Management

3 cr

COM 372 Issues Management

3 cr

ECON 201 Macroeconomics

3 cr

ECON 202 Microeconomics

3 cr

ECON 476 American Economic Development

3 cr

ENG 237 Women and Literature

3 cr

ENG 238 Literary Culture of the American West

3 cr

ENG 255 Ancient World Literature

3 cr

ENG 331 Literature and Ethnicity

3 cr

HIST 333 The Revolutionary Era and Early National Period

3 cr

HIST 336 Antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction, 1830-1877

3 cr

HIST 340 Reform and Reorganization in American Society

3 cr

HIST 343 Depression and World War II

3 cr

PHIL 101 Introduction to Philosophy

3 cr

PSY 368 Abnormal Psychology

3 cr

SOC 259 Introduction to Criminal Justice

3 cr

SOC 349 Law Enforcement

3 cr

SOC 367 Corrections

3 cr

One of the following capstone courses:

POLS 485 Studies in Political Theory

3 cr

POLS 486 Studies in American Politics

3 cr

POLS 487 Studies in International Relations

3 cr

POLS 488 Studies in Comparative Politics

3 cr

SECONDARY LICENSURE EMPHASIS

This emphasis qualifies students for State of Colorado Licensure in Social Science Education. Students interested in pursuing this comprehensive program should consult with the Teacher Education Program advisor in addition to the advisor in their major as soon as possible. A minimum of 72 credits is required. In addition, students must fulfill the Secondary Licensure Option described under Education. The following courses are required:

The Environmental Management emphasis allows students to complete the B.A. in Politics and Government (POLS) and the Master in Environmental Management (MEM) at Western in five years. To remain qualified for the 3+2, upon earning 66 credits each student must have:

maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 GPA within the major;

earned a B or above in two social science, two natural science (one with lab), and one statistics course;

fulfilled the 3-credit Internship requirement with a B or above and positive letter from the project sponsor;

provided three letters of recommendation, at least one of which is to be a professional reference and at least one of which is to be an academic reference from the student’s major at Western;

written a Statement of Purpose to the MEM program, detailing early career ambitions and ideas and connections for the eventual master’s Project.

At this point, if any aspect of a student’s performance is found to be insufficient, the MEM Director may reject a 3+2 student from the MEM program, in which case the student will need to find a new emphasis or minor in order to complete the undergraduate degree. Upon meeting the requirements above, and after Junior Year (reaching 91 credits in this plan—see “MAJOR MAP” at western.edu/3_2) holding to the same GPA and general performance standards outlined above, the School of Graduate Studies will designate students as “MEM candidates with provisional acceptance.” Upon completion of the final 29 credits of the Western B.A. in Year Four of this plan, the School of Graduate Studies will designate students as “MEM degree seeking students.” Students who have completed all other requirements of the 3+2 program and all Western undergraduate requirements, yet choose to leave the MEM program before Year 5, will still have completed the POLS undergraduate emphasis in Environmental Management and have earned the 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT EMPHASIS (WITH A 3+2 MEM)

A minimum of 68 credits is required.

POLS 117 Introduction to Political Ideas

3 cr

POLS 180 Introduction to American Politics

3 cr

POLS 250 Politics of the Environment

3 cr

POLS 255 Introduction to Comparative Politics

3 cr

POLS 260 Introduction to World Politics

3 cr

POLS 309 Political Theory I – Ancient to Early Modern

3 cr

POLS 310 Political Theory II – Late Modern and Contemporary

3 cr

POLS 499 Internship in Politics and Government

3 cr

Five of the following:

POLS 282 Issues in State and Local Government

3 cr

POLS 300 Constitutional Law I

3 cr

POLS 301 Constitutional Law II

3 cr

POLS 331 Politics of the Presidency

3 cr

POLS 340 Politics of Social Movements

3 cr

POLS 350 Human Rights

3 cr

POLS 355 Politics of Development

3 cr

POLS 360 American Foreign Policy

3 cr

POLS 370 Political Economy

3 cr

POLS 376 American Political Thought

3 cr

POLS 380 The United Nations

3 cr

One of the following:

ECON 216 Statistics for Business and Economics

3 cr

MATH 113 Statistical Thinking

3 cr

MATH 213 Probability and Statistics

3 cr

SOC 211 Quantitative Research and Methods

3 cr

One of the following:

POLS 485 Studies in Political Theory

3 cr

POLS 486 Studies in American Politics

3 cr

POLS 487 Studies in International Relations

3 cr

POLS 488 Studies in Comparative Politics

3 cr

Core MEM Courses

ENVS 601 Introduction to Environmental Management

5 cr

ENVS 605 Science of Environmental Management

3 cr

ENVS 608 Environmental Politics and Policy

3 cr

ENVS 611 Integrative Skills for Environmental Management

3 cr

ENVS 612 Quantitative Skills for Environmental Management

3 cr

ENVS 615 Science of Climate Mitigation and Adaptation

3 cr

One of the following from the MEM Emphases:

Sustainable and Resilient Communities Emphasis:

ENVS 616 Environmental Organizational Development and Management

3 cr

Global Sustainability Emphasis:

ENVS 617 Global Sustainability

3 cr

Integrative and Public Land Management Emphasis:

ENVS 618 Public Lands Management

3 cr

Upon successful completion of the prescribed courses listed above, University defined General Education, and elective requirements totaling 120 credits (with 40 at the 300-level or higher), students are eligible for their B.A. conferral. Students electing to complete MEM must follow the balance of their declared emphasis curriculum:

*Students must take 3 cr of ENVS 694 Fall Year 5 and 6 credits of ENVS 694 Spring Year 5.

MEM Global Sustainability Emphasis (beyond required Core courses)

Nine credits of (choose any combination with a global theme):

ENVS 620 Studies in Sustainable and Resilient Communities

3 cr

ENVS 623 Studies in Environmental Management

1-6 cr

ENVS 625 Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management

3 cr

Masters Project Requirement:

ENVS 690 Master’s Project Development

5 cr

ENVS 694 Master’s Project and Portfolio

9 cr

*Students must take 3 cr of ENVS 694 Fall Year 5 and 6 credits of ENVS 694 Spring Year 5.

Politics and Government Minor

A minimum of 18 credits is required including a three-credit, upper-division Politics and Government elective chosen in consultation with an advisor and the following:

POLS 117 Introduction to Political Ideas

3 cr

POLS 180 Introduction to American Politics

3 cr

POLS 255 Introduction to Comparative Politics

3 cr

POLS 260 Introduction to World Politics

3 cr

One of the following:

POLS 309 Political Theory I–Ancient to Early Modern

3 cr

POLS 310 Political Theory II–Late Modern and Contemporary

3 cr

Politics and Government Pre-Law Minor

A minimum of 21 credits is required including a three-credit elective chosen from the courses listed for the Politics and Government major: Pre-Law Emphasis chosen in consultation with an advisor and the following:

POLS 117 Introduction to Political Ideas

3 cr

POLS 180 Introduction to American Politics

3 cr

POLS 300 Constitutional Law I

3 cr

POLS 301 Constitutional Law II

3 cr

BUAD 210 Legal Environment of Business

3 cr

BUAD 315 Business Law

3 cr

Capstone Course Requirement. The following courses in the Politics and Government Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: POLS 485 Studies in Political Theory; POLS 486 Studies in American Politics; POLS 487 Studies in International Relations POLS 488 Studies in Comparative Politics.